Book Review: The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets

Today, I thought I would do something a little different that I have only done once before, A book review! The book in question is "The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets" by Eva Rice, which was actually recommended to me by a very good friend a few years ago. 

Can we first talk about this amazing cover? I am guilty of always judging a book by it's cover. When I am in a book shop the thing that makes me turn over the book to read the blurb is the cover, and this particular copy also has pink edged pages which make it a little bit different and a great addition to any bookshelf. 

If you know me, you know I love anything to do with the 1950's, the fashion, the food, the style and of course who can forget the Rock and Roll! Therefore, it is no surprise that this book is on my list of my favorite books of all time. 

The book is set in 1950's London where the world is recovering from World War 2, rationing is becoming a thing of the past and everyone is getting excited about a little musical craze sweeping the world called Rock and Roll. 

Enter our protagonist and trusty 18 year old narrator Penelope. The book opens with her standing at a bus stop when suddenly she is asked by a complete stranger called Charlotte to hop in to her taxi and accompany her to tea with her aunt,strange I know but so is Charlotte's crazy yet absolutely fabulous Aunt Clare, her strange yet witty cousin Harry and the loaf of Bread Julian (another great reason to pick up this book). 

The story follows Penelope falling into the glamorous world of Post War London with Charlotte and getting caught up in other plot twists along the way. She, however welcomes the change in scenery compared to her crumbling stately home that she lives in with her mother Talitha and her music crazed brother Indigo.  

This is one of those books where the story line is hard to explain because it is spread over a vast amount of time and there is so much happening but a story worth reading. I especially love the colourful and deep characters, they all have their own intriguing personalities and personal traits, for example Harry's dry sense of humor and his lack of decorum. Eva Rice really paints a beautiful picture of 1950's London through Penelope's eyes and something worth checking out if your looking for something fun and fantastic.Who needs a time machine when you have Eva Rice?

Until next time 

Erin

Summer Playlist

Summer is fast approaching and I love nothing more than having 3 months of Sun, sand and fun after an entire year of working hard. 

One of my favourite things to do is update my I-pod every couple of months with the best new songs and summer tunes are my absolute favourites, they're always upbeat and just sound summery, perfect for blasting in the car or at the beach. 

I've really been branching out into different sounds over the past couple of months and these are the top tunes to be gracing my I-pod for this summer. So lets get started! 

I remember watching her for the first time on 'Wizards of Waverly Place' on Disney Channel years ago and when I saw she'd released a single I thought "Oh, she's probably going to have the same sort of child-friendly sound a lot of the Disney Channel stars have when they release music" Boy, was I wrong. Her sound is so full of beats and really catchy and just a perfect uplifting party tune and if I had never heard of her I would never of guessed she was from Disney Channel. 

I've never really been a huge fan of Calvin Harris or Ellie Goulding but after hearing 'Drinking From The Bottle' by Calvin Harris I've been more careful to keep an eye out for some other tracks by him and this collaboration with Ellie Goulding does not dissapoint. After this track I definitely love Ellie Goulding a lot more. What I love about this track is it reminds me of music festivals and summer in London ( Which is a weird combination but still). 

I've always loved Taylor Swift and feel all the abuse she gets in the media isn't very fair. Music is a form of personal expression and what she chooses to write about should not be slated by everyone even if they do think it's repetitive. This track is one of my favourite's by Taylor because it shows a different style than we're used to. It also gives me goose bumps because it's celebrating being young which is something that always makes me feel good. 

That's all my summer favourites! Leave a comment below telling me your go to summer tunes and you never know they might make it on to my I-pod. 

Until next time 

Erin

 

March Favourites

I told you to prepare yourselves for the mountain of blog posts that were coming your way. 

This is my MARCH FAVOURITES! 

So many things have happened this month but the major thing is here, in Belfast, it's been the coldest March for over 20 years! Brr! I'm just hoping it warms up in April because I'm tired of snow and I want to store away the coats and tights and bring out the cute dresses. 

These various favourites have brightened up this cold and dark month so lets get started! 

Beauty Favourites 

Soap and Glory 'Butter Yourself' Body Butter 

Soap and Glory is a top Beauty Brand favourite for me the 'Butter Yourself' body butter is no exception. First off, it, like every other Soap and Glory product, smells absolutely amazing. Its sweet, fruity smell is definitely a treat for my skin and the formula is creamy yet not greasy and it leaves my skin smelling and feeling great all day. 

Buy it here! 

Barry M 'Gellish Hi-Shine' Nail Paint

I have a large collection of Barry M nail polishes and they are my go to polishes. I picked up this beauty a few weeks ago and it has not left my nails since. I love the colour, its such a lovely, bright lilac and great for adding a colour pop to any outfit and fits this seasons pastel trend. I also absolutely love the consistency and the way it spreads on your nails, however, it takes a few coats to make it perfect but it's well worth the patience. I also really love the name, don't you agree? 

Buy it here! 

Rimmel London 'Wake Me Up' Foundation

I've had my eye on this for a while, all over the Youtube and blogaspehere anyone who's anyone has been raving about this product and I have finally got my hands on it. Boy was it worth the wait. This is my holy grail of face make-up, it gives you full coverage without being heavy and greasy. It also gives your skin a soft dewy look and the SPF means you look good and your protected from the harsh sun rays definitely a must for your suitcase this summer and best of all there is no hint of orange what so ever! 

In case your wondering the shade I use is 100 Ivory. 

Buy it here! 

Non Beauty Favorites

Coral High low Dress- Forever 21 

This year for my birthday my friend got me a gift card for Forever 21 and yesterday I finally got to use it! Coral is going to be hugely featured in my wardrobe this summer and it's a big cat walk trend so why not? I've always loved high low hemlines I think they give a classy yet still young and flirty look. As soon as I saw this dress I knew I needed to have it so I snapped it up quickly. Let me tell you it's the best decision I ever made. Not only is the dress made out of a gorgeous chiffon material it also falls in all the right places and the colour is amazing against my pale skin tone. I also love lace and the shoulder inserts add a romantic look to the entire dress. Pair with some nude heels or wedges and a denim jacket or blazer and you've got a summer look that converts easily from day to night. 

My next favourite was actually a gift from my American Exchange partner to my family and I love it! It shows my love for this amazing city and also adds a nice decor touch to my bedroom

This was another gift from one of the host families in Chicago and it's been on my wrist ever since I received it. I love the colour and the way there is a Buddah bead and two sparkly silver beads (I love sparkle). Apparently all the girls in Highland Park Illinois are wearing them so that's a plus. 

TV and Youtube Favourites 

The Style, the Fear, the Drama, the Romances what more could you want from a TV show? For ages I have absolutely loved Pretty Little Liars and my obsession isn't going to end any time soon. The writers and actors are amazing and leave me wanting more with every episode. I'm patiently waiting for Season 4 

Cassey Ho or Blogilates is by far my favourite Youtuber of this month. I've been on a health and fitness kick of sorts this month and she has helped me along the way. She has so many workouts for any part of the body you want to work and her bubbly and cheery attitude pushes you along and encourages you to achieve your goals. 

Watch her here! 

Hotties of the month

Lets take a moment to appreciate all the wonderful celebrity males to ever grace our screens, runways and I-pods. Here's my favourite for this month 

Eddie Redmayne

I hope you enjoyed my monthly favourites. Until next time 

Erin 

TAG: Celebrity Crushes

Hey again! 

I know, I know posting twice in one day but I haven't posted in a while and I've had a sudden surge of inspiration so I'm going to get it all down.

I am a huge worshipper of Youtube and the various vloggers and beauty gurus. I've seen so many tags so I decided to do one. This tag was taken from my good friend Debra or 'Overdressed and Unprepared' blog, if you get the chance go check her out she is an amazing writer and her posts are really fun reads 

Check her out! 

Lets get started

                Who was your young celebrity crush?

I have so many

James Bourne

I loved him so much, I used to dream about meeting him ( I kind of still do) I have to admit Busted were my One Direction 

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Ah, Zach Morris, one of my early favourites. I liked him a whole lot better then compared to what he's like now 

Tom Fletcher

Loved him, loved Mcfly. I still sort of love him 

Who is your Celebrity girl Crush? 

Ashley Benson

Who is your Celebrity Crush over 40? 

I don't really have any, sorry! 

Boyband Crush? 

Niall Horan

Jail-bait Crush? 

I'm a little bit too young to have one 

I hope you enjoyed my first Tag post. I Tag you all. Watch out, there are many more posts to come.

Until next time

Erin

Chicago!

Hey,

So, I'm aware it's been a very long time since I last posted but I am, I admit, a lazy writer and haven't really had a lot of inspiration so, I'm really sorry about that.

Last week marked the end of one of the most amazing experiences of my life. On the 10th December 2011, I was accepted, along with 6 other 17 year old's on the trip of a life time.

Every 2 years, the Rotary Club of Belfast send 6 teenagers halfway around the world to the beautiful city of Chicago. They spend 10 days taking part in an official programme organised by the Rotary club of Highland Park meeting with amazing people and government officials who have had their own trails and tribulations. The purpose of this trip is conflict resolution. Northern Ireland has a long history of violence and this trip was created in 1992 to give teenagers a chance to see what other conflicts are happening and also an insight into how they can better their own communities when they return home. The best part is you don't just stay in a hotel, oh no, you are paired up with an American student who traveled with 6 of their peers the year before to Northern Ireland to take part in a similar experience.

The Chicago Skyline

Before we embarked on our journey we heard from the students that traveled there 2 years before about how this trip was going to change us and how is was indescribable. Of course we didn't believe them, I mean we knew that it was going to be good but how amazing can it really be? We were completely wrong. This trip was amazing, the places we seen, the people we met and the stories we heard changed us all for the better. We visited so many places (and we were so exhausted by the end) we met the mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emmanuel, we visited a navy base, two high schools and on our free day our hosts took us to a Cubs game(amazing hot dogs, amazing atmosphere) and too many places to list.

The best part was we not only got to experience the city as a whole but by staying with teenagers our age we also got to fully immerse ourselves in the culture. Every evening was spent getting to know our host siblings and hanging out with all the other American students and each other and making memories and friendships along the way. It was truly heartbreaking having to leave at the end of 10 days and saying goodbye to all these people that we had made such strong connections with (seriously the amount of tears shed could fill the Irish sea).

However, the experience was not over for us yet, two weeks ago we met 6 more American students. For the next 10 days they would be hosted by us. We would get to impart the wisdom we learnt while on their soil, we got to immerse them in our culture, our food and our slang (it was so funny seeing their reactions to this). Sadly, unlike when we were in Chicago, we did not all live in the same area so we didn't get to hang out with each other as much as we'd hoped but we still made an effort to establish the same connections we had made the year before. Last Friday was another sad goodbye and it was even worse because the 5 other students and I were not only saying goodbye to 6 new friends but we were also saying goodbye to this programme and we were now going to have to get back to normality and move on. 

I will, however, never forget the people I met and the memories I made and hopefully I can use these experiences later on in my life.

Until next time 

Erin 

Want, Want, Want!

Hey!

So you know that feeling when you discover a brand new website and you think to yourself "Where have you been all my life?" well this exact thing happened to me. Missguided.co.uk is my new top favorite website at the moment and the best thing is you can create a wish list so you don't have to go searching through all the pages to find that one top you were saving for later.

Holey Diamond Quilted Jacket- £13- www.missguided.co.uk

Yes, I have just recently added this beauty to my wardrobe. I was so happy because I needed a good jacket and this was 50% off! 

This really was worth the money even if I had payed full price. The quilted material is so soft and perfect for keeping you warm on those cool days and nights. It's stops at my hips which is a must for a short girl like me as I don't drown in it and it cuts me off at my legs and makes them look instantly longer. Also blue is my favorite colour and it also works for this seasons colour blocking trend, 

Sadly I do not have the money to buy the other things on my MissGuided wish list but I will show you them and you can feel free to drool along with me. 

Ellva Sheer Skater Skirt in Mint-£14.99- www.missguided.co.uk

You can never go wrong with a classic skater skirt. Also, the colour mint is a huge trend this summer that I am trying to incorporate into my wardrobe. This skirt is great for adding that pop of colour into your style and goes great with a pair of nude heels and a pale pink sleeveless shirt or even a slouchy t-shirt.

Saitta Floral Stripe Vest top- £11.99-  www.missguided.co.uk




You can't beat a good sale. I'm not usually one for sexy clothes so this top is perfect for me. I love the cute girly pattern and the fresh bright colours just looking at it makes me instantly happy and it will hang just right of me and not cling to my unflattering areas. It also makes me kinda think about icecream...is that a little bit weird? No, well that's cool then. Until next time

Erin

The Fault in Our Stars

Hey!

I really haven't updated in a while due to two things.

1. I really do not like to post with no inspiration because I think it makes things messy and unorganized (which is me all over)

2. I have been completely snowed under with exams, exams, exams!

I cannot wait until summer then I will be able to post daily. Ok, so as promised in the title of my blog I said I would bring you all things that are fabulous and my past posts have mainly been fashion based which brings me neatly on to the next post...

Yes, you guessed it, give yourselves a round of applause it's 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green. Amazing, fantastic, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Words cannot describe this book so I will let amazon

set the scene as it were.

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green, Amazon description

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumors in her lungs... for now. Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means) Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumors tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault. Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly, to her interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

 I will give away no spoilers. If you knew me you'd know I am not usually into books like this, however, I love reading so I am willing to try anything. A friend recommended this to me, despite being apprehensive at first I was pleasantly surprised (with 'pleasantly surprised' really meaning jumping up and down and thinking "This is the most amazing piece of literature I have ever read in my entire life!" ahem...) 

The protagonist Hazel is not one of those sick teenagers you usually read about where you feel sorry for them and then after a while you start to find their constant "I hate my life's" becoming annoying and repetitive ( a little bit like Bella from Twilight except she was not ill and had no excuse for her constant whining). It's true that Hazel is cynical in her outlook on life but she makes you feel and understand her pain and she slowly grows on you. Her and Augustus definitely balance each other out which makes their characters more believable and 3-dimensional. Augustus is one of those men that makes us girls cry into our pillows at night screaming "Why won't you love us!". Augustus is kind to Hazel and brings out the best in her, he's also sweet, caring and despite the things he has gone through and all the obstacles he faces within the novel he still has a smile on his face and really shows true loyalty and compassion. 

This book evoked every emotion possible within me. It made me laugh, cry and made me want to beg John Green to write a sequel. It is definitely a must read! 

Until next time 

Erin